With forests and wildflower meadows tumbling down to rocky beaches, this windswept Nova Scotia headland resembles an artist’s canvas. “I first saw the site on a sunny November day four years ago,” says Richmond, Virginia, architect Sandy Bond of the land his longtime friends Carter and Charles McDowell had just purchased. Sandy was captivated by the scene and enchanted by the unspoiled villages that characterize this part of Canada. “They look like little Maine towns or coastal paintings stopped in time,” he says. “You can imagine an architect, seeing this vernacular of boathouses and very real maritime activity on the water, combined
with peeling old barns along winding gravel roads. I couldn’t help but shout, ‘Wow!’”
Sandy shared his enthusiasm for the location—its prevailing winds, scenery, and wonderful light—with his friends. The McDowells immediately asked Sandy to design a shingled structure. “The whole thing was an adventure,” says Carter. “Charles and I wanted to live in a Nova Scotia barn, a lighthouse, and a Cape cottage. Sandy and our local builder, Richard Lind, were able to give us all those elements in the most imaginative house in the world.”
The McDowells have a Southern beach house where their children and grandchildren gather, but Charles says they built Meadow House with a different purpose in mind. “We envisioned it as
a quiet place for reading, laughter, and interesting conversations. It’s a spot we like to share with one couple at a time.” The resulting 3,200-square-foot dwelling features only two bedrooms within the connected structures. “We were initially intimidated by the idea of so much common living space,” Carter says, “but I have to admit, it is extremely comfortable, and we love it.”
With the mandate of a grown-up house, Sandy created a three-part home: a cottage-inspired structure that houses the master suite; a barn-like building that contains the main living areas; and a lighthouse-style tower. An enclosed, light-infused bridge connects the tower to the barn. In the tower, a guest suite occupies the ground floor, while a laundry and sitting area tuck beneath a slanted, galvanized-steel stairway that leads to the study. “Canadian lighthouses are far more simple than their American counterparts. We used their form as a guide,” explains Sandy.
The architect also looked to local outbuildings for direction. In the great room, a copper-roofed structure meant to resemble a shed cleverly conceals cupboards, a pantry, and a bar. “In the
old days, these afterthought structures were simply added on when there was a need for them,” says Sandy. “We wanted to create that same charming feeling of haphazardness in the plan. And, over time, the salt air will turn the copper a warm shade of green.” Pine walls complement oversize, sliding barn doors with prominent latches. “There is no drywall anywhere—only 1- by 8-inch, tongue-in-groove pine boards that can stand up to the harsh weather on this windy point,” Sandy says.
On the meadow side, the master suite fills the one-story cottage wing. Here, another shed and set of barn doors hide the bath, and side tables and a built-in headboard surround the pine platform bed. “Everyone asks why our bedroom doesn’t have a sea view,” says Charles. “The ocean exerts such an overpowering presence all day, we enjoy segueing into this peaceful setting where the sunrise doesn’t intrude.”
Complementing the architectural details, New York interior designer Susann Kelly orchestrated soft meadow and sea hues. “The homeowners are very low-key, and insisted that nothing distract from the view,” she says. To that end the McDowells chose hand-woven, hand-dyed area rugs in warm cream, yellow, and green tones. Off-white sofas, new vintage-style wicker, and a few local Canadian pieces complete the muted scheme. “It’s not about looking decorated, it’s about experiencing this extraordinary place,” says Carter.
Outside, the meadows offer an inexhaustible source of wildflowers.
Frequent picnics on the broad beaches usually culminate in rock and shell gathering. When they’re not antiquing, visiting local craftspeople, or exploring nearby villages and islands, Carter and Charles relax on the commodious porch. It’s the perfect place to contemplate the floating panorama that ranges from lobster boats and sailboats to fishing trawlers and ocean liners.
Days at Meadow House end with visual exclamation points—extravagant sunsets that bathe the sea in a golden-pink glow particular to this remarkable coastal spot. Just one more detail of the headland seascape that makes Sandy Bond say, “Wow.”
